“Could you not have informed me, Velvet? James and I hurried to London to celebrate the queen’s great victory, and after we had paid our respects to Her Majesty, I was accosted by Lord Dudley, oozing with his usual sly innuendos, this time about Southwood’s bride. Have you at least had the decency to inform the others, or is there some reason it is to be kept secret from the family? Will Mama approve?” Though Willow was several inches shorter than her younger sister, there was a regalness about her that was intimidating.
“We have been back in London but two days, Willow,” Velvet said calmly. “Scarce time to inform the family. ’Twas far more important to Robin that Angel be clothed decently and as befits the Countess of Lynmouth. After all, Mama will be returning any day now.”
“Mama will not be returning until next spring, Velvet. Robin has had word this very day.”
“What?”Velvet looked as if she were about to burst into tears. “What has happened? Why is she delayed?”
“I don’t know,” snapped Willow. “You will have to ask Robin, for it is he who received the communiqué. Besides, ’tis not as important as this marriage.” She turned and fixed Angel with a searching gaze. “Who are you?Are your people landed? I know nothing, but I intend to know all!”
“I must go and find Robin,” Velvet said. She turned to her new sister-in-law. “Don’t be afraid of Willow, Angel. Her bark is far worse than her bite, and she has always been our little matriarch. Tell her everything. She will love you as the rest of us do.” Then, picking up her skirts, she hurried from the room, her elder sister’s voice echoing in her ears as she ran.
“Impudent chit!”
A little frown upon her face, Velvet moved swiftly down the stairs to the next floor of the house and along a hallway to her brother’s library. She burst in without even stopping to knock. Both Alex and Robin were there bending over a map. They looked up, annoyed, as she barged into the room.
“Is it true? Is it true that you received a message from Mama? That she is not to be home until next spring? Why didn’t you tell me, Robin? What shall I do when this damned betrothed of mine arrives on the scene, which he is bound to do any day now?” Then she began to sob. “I want Mama and Papa, Robin!”
Alex strode across the room and gathered the weeping girl into his arms. Looking over her head at Robin, he said in an even voice, “Enough of this charade, Robin! I will not have Velvet terrorized any further. Sweetheart, look at me. I am the Earl of BrocCairn, your betrothed husband, and I love you. Please don’t be frightened any longer, I beg you!” He kissed the top of her head, making soothing noises at her.
Safe in his arms, it took a moment or two for his words to penetrate her brain, but then Velvet shrieked with outrage and pulled furiously away from him. She looked angrily at her brother. “You knew of this, Robin? You knew who he was?”
“Of course I knew, Velvet. He is an old friend.”
“You lied to me!” she shouted at him. “Both of you lied to me!”
“What lie?” demanded Robin. “No one lied to you.”
“You said he was Alexander, Lord Gordon!” She angrily stamped her foot, and her midnight blue skirts shook with a furious hiss of silk.
“He is, you little virago. He is Alexander Gordon, the Earl of BrocCairn. There was no lie told to you.”
“But not the full truth either,” she accused. “Oh, I will never forgive you! Never!Neither of you!”
Robin’s lime-green eyes narrowed in sudden anger. Grasping his sister by her upper arms, he shook her, enraged at her behavior. “You spoilt little minx, do you know how lucky you are in Alex? He has all the rights, Velvet.Not you!It is his right to demand an immediate marriage with you, and if I were wise, I am thinking, I would insist upon it, for I am convinced it is past time you had a lord and master to teach you a woman’s proper place. God knows Mother and Adam never have. They have spoilt you to the point of ruination! Alex, however, felt if you had the time to learn to know him, you could be brought around. He has been far more sensitive of your feelings than you have been of his.”
Velvet pulled away from her brother. Rubbing her arms where he had bruised her, she drew herself to her full height and said, “I shall return to court immediately, Robin. I thank you for your hospitality. I have aided your wife in the choosing of fabrics, but now that our elder sister, Willow, is here she can take charge. She is far more knowledgeable than I in matters of the latest fashions.”
“You will remain here if I have to lock you in your rooms, Velvet! I shall ask your release from the queen, and we will celebrate your marriage as soon as possible so that you and Alex may return toDun Brocbefore winter.” He glowered at her icily, every inch the great lord.
“Go to hell, my dear brother!” she spat back at him. “Try to force me to the altar and I will create a scandal the likes of which the Tudor court has never seen!” She turned to gaze scornfully at Alex. “And what have you to say about all of this,my proposed lord and master, my betrothed?”
“My dear, I am of a mind to release you from the agreement our parents made ten years ago. I have never had to force a woman to my bed yet, and frankly I am not sure you are to my taste with your russet hair, your bad manners, and your temper. I seek a woman for my wife, not a spoilt brat.”
“Oh!” Velvet looked outraged, and Robin hid a small smile of amusement.
“Nevertheless,” Alex continued, “the uniting of our families was a dream of both my late father and your father. Let us wait until the spring when your parents return home to make any irrevocable decisions.”
He had stung her and Velvet now retaliated wickedly. “Very well, my lord, but you understand that we are both free to seek our pleasures where we may until then.”
“Of course, madame,” was his equally cool reply.
Throwing him a final outraged look, Velvet turned on her heel and exited the room, slamming the door behind her.
“She ought to have her bottom paddled,” said Robin angrily.
“Thank you for telling her it was I who suggested giving her time to accept our marriage.”
“It was the least I could do under the circumstances, Alex. Why did you think now was the moment to tell her who you were?”
